TSgt. Rodney H. Gott

TSgt Rodney Herschel Gott was killed in action on 5 February 1969, when the EC-47 aircraft tail number 45-1133, call-sign CAP 72, on which he was serving as an Airborne Morse Systems Operator, was downed by enemy fire over Laos.

TSgt Gott was born on 3 May 1947 in Miami, Florida and graduated from Norland High School, Miami, Florida in 1965.

TSgt Gott enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 14 September 1965. Following basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, and Morse Code training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, he was assigned to the 6927th Security Group, Onna Point, Okinawa. In January 1968, TSgt Gott was reassigned to the 6993rd Security Squadron, Kelly AFB, Texas. On 12 July 1968, he reported for duty at the 6994th Security Squadron at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, and finally with Det 2, 6994th Security Squadron, Pleiku AB, Vietnam.

TSgt Gott was posthumously promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant on 1 June 1969. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart (posthumously), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.

The dining facility on Kelly AFB, TX was renamed the Rodney H. Gott Dining Facility in his honor on 13 June 1980.

On 11 November 1987, the 301st Intelligence Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan renamed Building 1523, its Operations Support Facility, “Gott Memorial Hall”.

TSgt Gott is interred in a communal grave at section 81, site 347, Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. His name is engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Panel 33W, line 65.